Bunging apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

L'. WAGNER & J. MARR.

v BUNGING APPARATUS. 1\I0.516,668.l PaBHtGdMamiZO, 1894; Y

(No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. WAGNER 8u J. MARR.

BUNGING APPARATUS.

- N0. 516,668. Pa'teglltedzlvlar. 20, 1894,.

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LoUIs WAGNER AND JOHN MARR, on BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BUNGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,668, dated March 20, 1894.

Application inea June 24, 189s.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that we,. LoUIs WAGNER and JOHN MARR, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore,fin the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in B-unging Apparatus; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

In what may be termed the second fermentation of beer for the purpose among other things of charging it with carbonio-acid gas to give it the proper life, the beer is confined or bunged in large and strong casks. This operation prevents the escape of gas generated in the beer, or permits the escape of the excess of gas only. It is also found desirable and economical to distribute the excess of gas from any cask or casks among other casks in which the fermentation is slower and of less amount. For this purpose the said casks are connected with a common gas conduit through which the carbonio-acid may pass in the direction of the least pressure.

Our present invention relates to apparatus of this character and has for its objects to permit the gas to pass from any cask containing an excess of the same, but always to maintain in said cask all gas generated therein until the maximum predetermined pressure is attained.. Also to permitthe entrance of gas provided that the pressure within the cask is less than the pressure in the gas conduit with which the gas is connected. Also to provide, outside of or independent of the gas conduit which extends from one to another of the individual gas pipes of the several casks, a pressure regulator which may consist of a head or column of water, a spring controlled valve, or other equivalent device. Also to enable casks in various different positions, for instance in two or more rows at right angles to each other, to be conveniently connected with the main gas conduit.

With such objects in view our invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the improvements more clearly understood we have shownl in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without however Serial No. 478.692. (No model.)

limiting our invention in its practical applications to the particular construction which, A

In said drawingsz--Figure l is an elevation showing a series of casks having applied theretoa bunging apparatus embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, and on a larger scale of that portion of the apparatus which pertains to a single cask. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partlyin section, of the same. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views on lines IV-IV, V--V and VI-VI- of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the joints of the connecting gas pipe.

Referring to the drawings l indicates the beer casks in which the secondary fermentation is to be performed, which are frequently termed shavings-casks, arranged in any suitl able number and position for connection with the bun ging apparatus. The latter comprises a main gas pipe 2 which extends in a substantially horizontal direction through the cellar, and which is connected at suitable intervals with the individual bunging devices of the several casks.

Each bunging device 3 comprises a bung or equivalent means for making gas tight the cask to which the device belongs, and a conduit leading from the interior of the cask through the said-bung and adapted to permit the ingress or egress of gas according to the direction of the pressure. Such conduit may also be employed for racking off the beer when sufficiently fermented.

We may here state that the bung and conduit employed with the rest of our improved apparatus may be of any desired and suitable characterand forms no necessary part thereof. We however have illustrated and preferred to employ the vent bung described in detail in and constituting the subject matter of the application of Louis Wagner of even date herewith, (Serial No. 47 8,593, led .I une 23, 1893.)

In the drawings et indicates the bung and 5 the sleeve or conduit extending therethrough to the interior of the cask and provided with l the pressure in each cask is indicated. 9 is a screw-threaded extension of the sleeve 5 provided with a passage 10.

11 indicates a valve chamber provided with a screw-threaded aperture 12 with which is adapted to be connected, by a T or other coupling 13, the main gas pipe 2. Leading from the aperture 12 the chamber 11 is provided with a passage 14, leading to a space 15 provided with a valve seat 16.

17 is a valve iitting said seat and adapted to permit the passage of gas through the way 14 in the direction of the pipe 2. This valve is controlled by a suitable opposing pressure, as by that of a spring 18, so as to permit the said escape of gas from the cask only when the pressure in the latter exceeds the said opposing pressure. The latter should be capable of regulation as to its amount and to this end we mount in a case 19 screwed upon the chamber 11 a vertically adjustable plunger or screw 2O adapted to engage the spring 18 and compress the same more or less upon the valve 17 according to the amount of pressure which it is desired to maintain in the cask. On the opposite side of the valve 1'7 a passage 22 forms a continuation of the passage 14 and leads to a space 22. The latter has a short passage 23 leading to a valve seat 24 and controlled by a valve 25 on said seat. This latter valve is also controlled as to the amount of pressure which will open it, as for instance by a spring 26, which in practice is adjusted to such tension that the valve 25 will open only under a somewhat greater pressure than the valve 17. Above the valve 25 a passage or pipe 27 serves as an escape for the surplus gas, which latter it is preferable to conduct out of the cellar into the open air, or into a receiver in which it may serve any useful purpose, by extending the pipe 27 as indicated in the drawings.

28 is a valve case screwed to or formed with the chamber 11 and provided with a shut o cock 29 which is to be closed when it is desired to cut off a cask from the rest of the apparatus for racking off ory other purpose.

30 is a screw-threaded coupling sleeve connected with the valve case 28 and adapted to be connected with or disconnected from the extension 9 of the conduit 5.

31 is a passage also leading from the aperture 12 of the chamber 11 to the space 22a from whence it may have communication with the cask through the parts 28, 30 and 5.

32 is a valve seatin the passage 31 on which fits a check valve 33 adapted to permit the entra-nce of gas into the cask from the pipe 2 whenever the pressure in the latter prepon derates, but which will not allow of any es cape or passage of gas from the cask.

311 is a plug which closes the upper end of the chamber in which the check valve is situated and which may be removed for assembling or cleaning the parts. The check valve 33 may be kept normally upon its seat 32 either by gravity as illustrated or in any equivalent way.

It will be observed from a consideration of the construction and operation of the apparatus as thus far described that the pressure in the main gas pipe can never exceed by any material amount that in the various casks connected with it. On the other hand the carbonio-acid gas pressure in each cask will accumulate up to the limit which will operate its spring controlled valve 17, and upon exceeding such limit the extra quantity of gas will pass through said valve and into the main gas pipe, and thence through the valve 33 of the bunging device pertaining to any cask the pressure in which is less than will be the pressure in said main pipe after the latter shall have received the said extra quantity of gas. In the case of excessive pressure, above the limit of safety, or above the limit for which the valve 25 is adjusted, the latter will be operated and the excess of gas will pass away through the passage or pipe 27 and out of the cellar into the atmosphere or into any receiver with which the said pipe, may be, for economical purposes, connected.

While it is convenient to provide each of the bunging devices with the escape valve 25, it will be observed that it is not necessary that the valve on each of a connected series of bunging devices should be operative. One of such valves only, whichever may be most convenient, need be connected with the pipe 27, and the adjusting screws of each of` the othervalves may be turned downward so as to compress their valves and render them tight and inoperative. In such case when there is an accumulated pressure in any cask at 'a distance from the valve 25 which is so connected with the escape passage 27, the valve 17in the bunging device of the cask having such excessive pressure will be operated, and the excess of gas will pass into the main pipe 2, from which it will, if it nds no exit into a cask having a low pressure, actuate the check valve 33 which is contiguous to the passage or pipe 27 and will pass through the valve 25 of the latter and escape.

If there should be a leak in `any oneof the casks connected with the main pipe 2, or if there should be no fermentation of its contents, all the gas could, under the old system, pass freely from the other casks into the main pipe 2 and would be at liberty to enter such leaky caslr and escape therefrom, but it will he observed that each of the other casks is so controlled by its valve 17 that its contents can never lose any of the carbonio-acid gas generated therein until such gas shall have accumulated beyond the desired quantity and shall have exerted a sufficient pressure to pass the valve 17. In such case the escape of the excess of gas from the cask is desirable, and will not leave the contents of the cask in a flat condition as would be the case if the casks were not individually controlled and a lOO A leak should exist anywhere in the series or in their connecting pipe.

It is often desirable to connect the bunging apparatus with one or more casks which are not situated in the same row or straight line with the other casks. YAs it is not practically possible to move such casks into line with the main pipe 2, we have adapted the latter to be so shifted and modified as to its position as to admit of bringing into the series of bunged casks any individual receptacle which may be thus out of line. near each bunging device 3 is provided with a movable section 35 which is united with that portion of the pipe 2 contiguous to the bunging device by means of a horizontal joint 36 which permits the section 35 of the main conduit to be turned upward or downward to the desired degree. The said section 35 is at its other end connected with the main portion of the pipe 2 by a vertical joint 37. By the operation of these two joints it will be observed that the said main portion of the pipe 2 can be extended in any desired direct-ion and at any inclination either horizontal or vertical, so as to reach the casks desired to be included in the bunged series.

The pipe 2 is for the greater portion of its length made of considerable diameter, say tWo or two and a half inches, as indicated at 38, thereby enabling it to contain a considerable amount of gas Without the necessity of employing a receiver.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 4is- 1. A bunging device adapted `t0 .be interposed between a gas conduit and the cask to be bunged, provided with two independent passage ways, a check valve in one of said passage ways adapted to operate to permit ingress of gas to the cask, and a pressure controlled valve in the other passage way adapted to operate upon a preponderance of pressure in the cask, substantially as set forth.

2. A bunging device adapted for connection with a gas conduit, and with a cask, provided with a check valve to permit the ingress of gas to the cask and prevent the egress therefrom, an automatic valve adapted to open to permit such egress, and means acting to keep this automatic vvalve normally closed for controlling it so as to prevent its opening excepting under apredetermined accumulated pressure in the cask, substantially as set forth.

3. A bunging device having a check valve adapted to permit the ingress of gas into a cask and to prevent the egress of the same, a pressure controlled valve normally closed and To this end the pipe 2 at or' adapted to open upon the accumulation of the predetermined amount of gas in the cask to permit the egress of the same, and a second pressure controlled valve independent of the main gas conduit and communicating with the passage way of the bunging device and adapted to opeijate at a pressure exceeding that at which the iirst pressure controlled valve operates, substantially as set forth.

4. In a bunging device the combination with a suitable casing or chamber having an orifice adapted to be connected with a gas conduit and a second orifice adapted to be connected with a cask, of the pressure controlled valve 17, the check valve 33 independent of the first mentioned valve, and independent passage ways in the said bunging device controlled by the said valve as described, and both extending from the first mentioned orifice to the second mentioned orifice, substantially as set forth. f

5. A'bunging device havinga suitable chamber or casing, an outwardly openingspringcontrolled check valve 17 therein ,the inwardly opening check valve 33 independent 0f the valve 17, and a second pressure controlled valve 25 adapted to operate only at a higher pressure than that 'which will actuate the valve 17, as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination with a plurality of casks, of suitable vent bungs therein, sleeves or conduits 5 in the said bungs, a seriesof bunging devices connected with said sleeves and provided each with a check valve 33,- a pressure-controlled exitvalve 17, a main gas pipe or conduit connected with the said bunging devices beyond the said valves, and a pressure-controlled valve or escape 25 independent of the main gas conduit and connected with one of said bungin g devices, substautially as set forth.

7. Abunging devicel having the valve chamber 1l, a passage way therethrough controlled by a valve 17, means for keeping the'latter yieldingly upon its seat, a check valve 33 controlling a second passage Way through the said valve chamber, a second pressure-controlled valve 25 operating at a different degree of pressure fromthat actuating the said valve 17, and a cut off cock 29, substantially as set forth.

- In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS WAGNER. JOHN MARR. Witnesses:

H. N. Low, CHAs. W. PARKER.

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